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Unsurprisingly, the test of strength with four great ice hockey powers brought a clear idea for Austria’s U-20 team at the World Cup: the gap to the absolute top of the world is huge.
In Edmonton there were only small partial successes against the United States (0:11), Sweden (0: 4), Russia (1: 7) and the Czech Republic (0: 7), but with goalkeeper Sebastian Wraneschitz there was also a big winner .
For team boss Roger Bader, one thing is clear: talents need more practice in games, in the league, but also in the youth team against the best nations.
“The quality is much higher”
It is the fourth time that Austria has participated in a U-20 World Cup in which only ten teams participate. The first expected victory was clearly out of reach. Roger Bader is not surprised that there is nothing to gain for his team.
“These results are normal, the quality is much higher. We didn’t have any chances, but we had some good moments against overwhelming opponents,” explained the team boss.
Another chance for ÖEHV-U20
The fact that his team only faced the best nations in preliminary group B did the rest. “It was a bit unfortunate to have four teams in the top six. I think we are not that far from Germany, Switzerland or Slovakia,” Bader said, referring to Group A.
Perhaps the rojiblanco-rojizos juniors, who formed the youngest team with Slovakia, can prove it next year. Since there is no relegation this year due to the corona pandemic, the Austrians will also be in Edmonton and Red Deer in 2021, and hopefully with spectators at the World Cup A. Eleven players can return and their experience should help them this year. But more is needed.
Talents need match practice
Getting physically stronger, gaining experience in strong league games, and expanding the national team program are essential for Bader to get closer to the top.
The Swiss reported that a talent from his home country played around 50 games against the major nations between the U16 and U20, while an Austrian colleague barely played one. “The more you play against such good opponents, the more you learn to adapt the speed and intensity of the game,” Bader said.
For him it is equally important that “players play in a league where they are constantly challenged at a high level. That is the way you develop. You cannot do magic.”
16 players on the 24-man squad come from local clubs, seven have played in the ICE Hockey League this season, but with Jacob Pfeffer and Clemens Krainz (both Graz99ers) only two are more or less regular.
The goalkeeper draws attention to himself
Sebastian Wraneschitz was on the ice six times for the capitals of Vienna and now he was doing a lot of self-promotion in Canada. The 18-year-old was under fire like no other goalkeeper in this World Cup (194 shots on goal in three games), but he was always focused and avoided even bigger defeats with many good saves.
“The little-known Austrian goalkeeper became a sensation after great performances against two of the great powers,” wrote “The Hockey News” experts after the Sweden game. Since he is only 18 years old, Wraneschitz may also be there next year.
Rossi’s farewell to the offspring
For captain Marco Rossi, the tournament was the goodbye of the young ice hockey. The 19-year-old from Vorarlberg travels to St. Paul to fight for a spot on the NHL team starting Jan.13 at Minnesota Wild Training Camp starting Jan.4.
The center had a foretaste of what awaits them in the future. “It was very special for me, it was the first time I played against such important nations. It was a great experience against the best players from the other teams,” explained Rossi.
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